Page 351 - middlemarch

rendering up the whip, with an air of not being obliged to
do it.
‘Not to-day—another time. I am not riding my own
horse.’
‘Shall you see Mary to-day?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ said Fred, with an unpleasant twinge.
‘Tell her to come home soon, and play at forfeits, and
make fun.’
‘Enough, enough, Ben! run away,’ said Mrs. Garth, seeing
that Fred was teased…
‘Are Letty and Ben your only pupils now, Mrs. Garth?’
said Fred, when the children were gone and it was needful
to say something that would pass the time. He was not yet
sure whether he should wait for Mr. Garth, or use any good
opportunity in conversation to confess to Mrs. Garth her-
self, give her the money and ride away.
‘One—only one. Fanny Hackbutt comes at half past elev-
en. I am not getting a great income now,’ said Mrs. Garth,
smiling. ‘I am at a low ebb with pupils. But I have saved my
little purse for Alfred’s premium: I have ninety-two pounds.
He can go to Mr. Hanmer’s now; he is just at the right age.’
This did not lead well towards the news that Mr. Garth
was on the brink of losing ninety-two pounds and more.
Fred was silent. ‘Young gentlemen who go to college are
rather more costly than that,’ Mrs. Garth innocently con-
tinued, pulling out the edging on a cap-border. ‘And Caleb
thinks that Alfred will turn out a distinguished engineer:
he wants to give the boy a good chance. There he is! I hear
him coming in. We will go to him in the parlor, shall we?’

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